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Huma Abedin calls Jewish group 'that crowd'

Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton’s closest aide, is being criticized for dismissive remarks she made about one of the most powerful lobbies in the United States. It was in a 2009 email she wrote to Bill Clinton’s aide, Doug Band, that she recommended that the former president turn down an invitation to speak before the American Israel Public Affairs Council (AIPAC). Abedin wrote: “U really want to consider sending him into that crowd?” Abedin asked.

Several leaders of the Jewish community have taken offense at the remark about the principal organization in the country that fosters good bilateral relations between the United States and Israel. According to The Daily Caller, Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America said: “Appalling.” Klein said that Abedin’s aside demonstrates hostility toward Jews and Israel “in light of the fact that ‘that crowd’ gives huge ovations to White House speakers.”

It was Hillary Clinton, instead of ex-president Clinton, who spoke at the next AIPAC conference in 2010. In March of this year, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both delivered speeches AIPAC. As president, Bill Clinton addressed the group in the 1990s.

The email exchange between Abedin and Band commenced when Band admitted that former president Clinton was reluctant to attend the AIPAC forum that year. In a message to Abedin and Cheryl Mills -- who was then Hillary’s chief of staff -- Band wrote, “Aipac begging for wjc to come speak at conference. He doesn’t think he should unless you all do.” Mills answered that she would ask the then-secretary of state Hillary for a decision. Meanwhile, Abedin wrote: “U really want to consider sending him into that crowd?” When Band asked, “Go or not go?” Abedin responded, “No go to aipac.”

Often described as Hillary Clinton's "second daughter," Huma Abedin is a Muslim of Saudi Arabian-origin, born in Michigan, who is currently estranged from her Jewish husband, the former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner.